Ultra Combo News Report 10.19.09: Mass Effect 2 Release Date, SSFIV Release Date, More
Posted by Armando Rodriguez on 10.19.2009
Plus, 250GB PS3, Expansion Packs set for SOCOM Confrontation and Borderlands and Madden Arcade is on the way!
I am Armando Rodriguez and this is the Ultra Combo News Report. My review for Need for Speed Shift has been uploaded into 411mania as I write this, so yes, this is the week where you will get to read my impressions on the game. On my tab I have Williams Pinball Hall of Fame for PS3, which is supposed to arrive this week and Fallout 3 GOTY which I purchased yesterday. Yes, I had resisted the temptation to get Fallout 3 until now and after putting 6 hours on it, I can't wait to get more! The world is so big and the atmosphere is amazing. Scavenging for food, weapons and parts is a lot of fun. It feels like Oblivion in the future, although the combat system is different and the dialogue options (especially the ability to be good, bad or neutral) is much more interesting. Being bad is being REALLY bad and some choices make me cringe, although I am trying to stay neutral. That means killing and stealing, but doing enough good actions to maintain balance. I have yet to touch the DLC add-on packs (I have yet to see a lot of the original game as well) and I don't know if I will ever finish a review (it will probably take me weeks to see everything) unless Ramon tells me I can do it whenever I finish the game. It takes hundreds of hours to see everything and I barely have time to play two hours a day during the week. But still, I have been very impressed with how everything works so far. On to the news!
Mass Effect 2 Release Date Revealed!
Electronic Arts has officially revealed the release date for Mass Effect 2. The game will hit stores on January 26 in North America and January 29 in Europe, with the game launching on the Xbox 360 and PC simultaneously. EA has also revealed the first set of pre-order incentives for the game. If you reserve your copy at Gamestop you will get access to a set of Terminus Heavy Armor that increases run speed, boost energy shields and add an extra magazine of ammo. Also you will gain access to M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon which "generates high-powered localized gravity well, accelerating particles to near infinite mass".
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: First of all, I am happy that the game is coming out soon, but I have officially lost hope that it will come out someday for my dear PS3. I am a big fan of Bioware and their games are always awesome, so I might end up getting a 360 just for parts one and two of this series. EA also confirmed that Mass Effect is planned as a trilogy, so gamers rejoice! I think I have mentioned this before, but the ability to load your Mass Effect 1 saves into Mass Effect 2 in order to import decisions and change the game's world is an innovative concept, one that I am sure will be copied in the future.
Super Street Fighter IV Gets Release Date, Price Revealed
According to Gamestop's recent listing, Super Street Fighter IV will be released on March 23, 2010 and retail for $40. Previously, Capcom had stated that the game would be released on spring 2010 and that it would not be a full-priced game, which gives credibility to the listing.
[Credit: 1UP.com] The Beatdown: Is $40 a reasonable price for an update? I think it is, considering that it will add 8 new characters, new special moves and will rebalance the gameplay. If gamers can pay $60 for any sports game (that could also apply to wrestling games like Smackdown vs Raw) that has a yearly release schedule and amounts to basically a roster update with one or two new features, then $40 for SSFIV doesn't sound so bad. I have already made plans to get it and I know the SF faithful have as well. Call it Street Fighter IV: Game of the Year Edition, since it comes out roughly one year and one month after the original.
Borderlands Getting DLC This Year
Borderlands is not even out yet, but we already know that we will be getting DLC for it before the year comes to a close. The first DLC pack will be The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned and will retail for $9.99 on the PS3 and PC, or 800 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360. The story behind the DLC is about an island full of undead enemies accidentally created by the titular doctor and players will join the mad scientist in tracking and killing is creations. Gearbox Software is promising that the DLC will be a "full-fledged" expansion pack and that it will be the first in a series of expansions for the game.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: It feels like Déjà Vu because I said the same things about the Dragon Age Origins expansion last week. $10 doesn't sound so bad for a brand new quest and location and the associated items that come with it. But if they can have an expansion ready so soon, why wasn't this content on the disc? This makes me feel like DLC is not done with the interest of expanding the game, but with the object of making more money. Well, making money is the real purpose behind any company, but I think you all understand what I am trying to get to.
250GB PS3 Confirmed
The long-rumored 250GB PS3 Slim is a reality, as Sony confirmed that the new SKU will be hitting stores on November 3 of this year and will retail for $349.99, roughly $50 more than the current unit, with double the hard drive space. That means that when the Xbox 360's Modern Warfare 2 bundle is sold out, Sony will once again have the priciest console in the market. Of course, Microsoft could keep the 250GB Xbox 360 SKU on the market after the bundle sells out and we might have price parity once again.
[Credit: 1UP.com]
The Beatdown: Oh Sony, not again. What's the deal with so many SKU's? To be honest, another Slim model was needed, especially if Sony has officially stopped manufacturing the fat models, but it would have been wise (in my opinion) to wait until the fat models are phased out before coming out with the new SKU. Right now if you go to your local video game store you will find this new 250GB PS3 Slim, the original PS3 Slim and the 80GB and 120GB PS3 fat models. That is likely to create confusion among parents and prospective buyers as of what model they believe is worth buying. In the long run this might be a good move, but right now it feels like another unnecessary revision to a console that has already been revised way too many times.
SOCOM Confrontation DLC Detailed
SOCOM Confrontation is finally getting its first expansion in the shape of SOCOM Confrontation: Cold Front. This new expansion will retail for $14.99 and will add a brand new Russian and Eastern European setting, with five new maps (three of them revamped maps from previous SOCOM titles) and snow effects with associated gear. It will also add new weapons and attachments, a new character progression system with primary and secondary specializations, new music and new trophies. There is no release date set, but new information was promised to be made available shortly.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: It took many patches to fix SOCOM up and finally it is getting a new expansion. I have yet to play the game on a consistent basis (I have played a few times at a friend's house) and I think the game is pretty good and has a very loyal online community. The DLC seems fairly priced, since it adds a lot of new content, but I guess I will wait until more details are released about the maps and such before I comment any further. I have some concerns about the whole "revamped" maps concept: is it really because players want it, or is it just a way to recycle old content and save some money?
EA Announces Madden NFL Arcade
After the release of NHL 3-On-3 Arcade earlier this year, EA will release Madden NFL Arcade in December on both, PSN and Xbox Live for $14.99 (1200 MS points). The game will focus on 5-on-5, fast paced football and eliminate things like penalties and field goals in favor of giving players 4 downs to navigate 60 yards downfield.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: NHL 3-On-3 Arcade got a mixed reaction when it came out. Some people loved it and others felt it was weak and shallow (I was with the latter group) and now EA flips the coin and takes a gamble with Madden, quite possibly their best known brand. The game thus far sounds a bit like the old NFL Blitz series and I guess that if it plays like that, it will get a positive reception. Independently off whether or not the game is good, it will sell a ton simply because of the Madden name.
Fist Of The North Star Game In The Works
Yet another anime is getting adapted into a video game as Fist of the North Star is getting its own game thanks to Koei. Although the game is only confirmed for Japan, chances are it will make its way stateside, since it will be an extension of the Dynasty Warriors series. Similar to how Koei combined Dynasty Warriors with the popular anime Gundam, Hokuto Musou (which combines the "Musou" name from the Dynasty Warriors series in Japan, with the name "Hokuto No Ken", Fist of the North Star's Japanese name) will combine the story arc from the anime with the gameplay of the Dynasty Warriors series, which means plenty of repetitive beat-em-up madness.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: I do expect to see this game in North America, after all, Koei has been very vocal about their interest in expanding more of their properties to America. One thing I hope to see here is a bit more innovation. It seems the Dynasty Warriors series has been the same since it first came out (outside of the original, which was a one on one fighter) and it is getting very stale. I played quite a few of them and at first I was thrilled, but right now it feels like the same game with a new coat of paint.
The Quick Hits:
- In another "What is Sony thinking?" moment, it seems third-parties are not required to publish their PSP titles on the PSN. That means that if you traded in your old PSP for a PSP Go or opted to buy the Go instead of the older models, you might miss out on some games.
- Since making online play free and doing away with the monthly subscription fee, Dungeons & Dragons Online has seen "hundreds of thousands" of new players, according to developers. I hope this becomes a big HINT that free is the way to go with MMORPG's.
- Excuse me for not knowing who they are, but Harmonix has confirmed that U.K. band Blur will be playable in Lego Rock Band.
- If you want a black Wii-Remote or Nunchuck, Nintendo will be releasing them in North America on November 16.
- If you play World of Warcraft, be aware that starting on November 11 the game will require you to log in to Battle.net in order to play. I guess this is a new auto-piracy measure.
Finish Him!
Orchid Wins
Until next week folks! Remember to post your comments, suggestions and overall Mark Salmela bashing, which is all welcomed.
